Winch



Fb. 6, 1934. A Al JOHSON 1,946,145

ATTORNEYS.

Feb.- 6, 1934. A JOHNSON 41,946,145

I WINCH Filed June 22, 19:51' 3 sheets-sheet 2 lNvENToR Q rn.

BY v @7L W, if sm ATTORNEY WINCH Filed lJune 22. 193.1 i

3 Sheets-Sheet I5 lb d INVENroR.

@y was. ATTORNEYS.-

Patented Feb. 6, i934 tenia Almen al. Joon, Superior, Wis., assigner toSuperior Iron Works Company application .lune 22, 193i. Serial No.546,917

i3 Claims. (Cl. 25d-172) My invention relates to Winches, and has forits object theprovision of a simple, compact, durable andeiiicientreversible winch, capstan, or the like, adapted toautomatically overhaul, or pay out a towing, hauling, or mooring line,or cable, when the strain thereon is reduced or increased beyond apredetermined tension. It has for a further pbject the provision of awinch of the character referred to which may also be arbitrarilyoperated. With these and other objects in view, it. consists of thestructures, combinations, Vand arrangements of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a. section of myinvention approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a sectionof said invention approximately on the line 1-1 of Fig. l, partlybrokenaway and lomitting the motor and train of gears between the motor anddrum shaft hereinafter referred to. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of saidinvention. Fig; 4 is `an enlarged rear elevation v'of an operatinglever, locking quadrant and fragment of a rock bar. Fig. 5 is anenlarged side elevation of said operating lever and quadrant, and of alatch for said lever. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of two pivotallyconnected levers, one of them beingl in section qn the line 3--3 of Fig.l. v

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central horizontal section of a modified form ofcontroller. `Fig. 8 is an en'- larged vertical section of said modiiiedform of controller, on theline 4 4 of Fig. 7'. Fig. 9 is a top plan viewof a modified form of prime mover. Fig. i9 is a schematic view of theinterior of the preferred electric controller and electric switch panel,showing also an electric motor and dynamic 1 brake. Fig. l1 yis a topplan view of a gear 5 (shown in Fig.v i) and of transmission meansbetween a modified form of prime mover (shown in Fig. 9) and said gear.

iin the drawings, l`is a base of any suitable fo or structure.Journalled in any suitable bearings on said base, as le, 22, is a drumshaft 2, upon which is mounted a gear 3, adapted to rotate said shaftand to be driven by any suitable engine or prime mover, as by anelectric motor 4, or by a a steam engine 50, preferably through a trainof speed reducing gears, as Wand 6.

1 Loosely mountedV on said shaft, is a cable drum member '7. Looselymounted on said shaft is also a brake wheel member 8, provided with aflange 8a, upon which is mounted a brake band 8b.

Keyed to said shaft and adapted toA be rotated' thereby'is'a sun gear 9.Journalled upon one of" saidmembers are one or y,more planetary gearsadaptedi to engage said gear 9, and to engage an ,inafter describedspring 21.

internal gear formed upon the other of said members, 'as planetary gears10, 11 and l2 preferably journalled upon one end of said drum andadapted to engage said gear 9, and an'annular internal gear 8 formedupon said brake wheel, by which planetary gears said internal gear 8 andsaid gear 9 are enabled to turn said drum. it will be observed, however,that when the prime 'mover and shaft 2 and gear 9 are idle andstationary said gear 9 forms a fixed fulcrum for the planetary gears,which, if the drumfbe then rotated by the excessively strained cablewill tend to rotate said brake Wheel, or to slip said brake wheel withre,.-y s'pect to said brakeband. But before such slip can occur, saidband, because of its frictional en- 7 gagement with said wheel', will berocked a short distance by said wheel in opposition to the here- Said'movement of the band, or wheel, or both of them, will be communicated toany suitable devices for admittingany suitable energy-creating Imeans tothe prime mover as through levers 24, 25, 26 and 27 to an electriccontroller 28 for admitting electric current from any suitable source,as a battery 28B to an electric switch panel 28h, which is connected 8to said controller by a circuit wire cable'28c, and to said motor 4 andbrake lL by the circuit wire cable 28d. Instead of said source ofelectricity, electric controller, circuit Wires, electric motor anddynamic brake, there may be substituted a source of steam pressure as aboiler (not shown, but well known to the art), and a suitable reversingsteam valve 51, adapted tocommunicate with said boiler through a. pipe58, and through pipes 51B and '5lb with the steam chest 52 for thecylin- 9,

gear 5. The valve stems 53d and d'of-said engine 100 may be pivoted attheir outward ends to'eccen'tric.- collars 56B and 56h, respectively,journalled on said shaft' 56. Thereupon s'aid prime mover andintermediate gears will rotate said shaftZ, which will turn said gear 9,thus changing the character 105 of gear 9 from a figed fulcrum for theplanetary gears to a driving gear for said drum and changing thecharacter of the brake Wheel from a driven wheel to'a stationary fulcrumdominated or fixed by said brake band. The ,drum will thus 1 be operatedto pay out said cable rapidly until the excessive strain thereon isrelieved, when, as

will hereinafter appear, said motor will be stopped and said band willbe retracted to normal posi-v tion by said spring 21.

'I'he ends of said brake band in the preferred form of my said inventionare spaced from each other, and each of such ends is provided with anoutwardly directed tongue, as 14 and 15, respectively, extendingsubstantially parallel to and spaced from each other. Said band iscontracted or set upon said wheel under predetermined primary pressureby any suitable resilient means provided with any suitable bearings. Forexample, at one side of such pair of tongues, a post 16 is erected uponsaid base. Extending loosely through both of said tongues, is a bolt1'7, provided with la head adapted to bear against the outer face of theone of said tongues farthest from said post. A compression spring 18 andcompression follower 19 and nut 20 are mounted upon said bolt betweensaid post and the adjacent one of said tongues and spaced from saidpost, and a compression spring 21, and a compression follower 22 and nut28 are mounted upon said bolt at the, opposite side of said post withthe forward end of said spring 21 bearing against said post, by means ofwhich spring 18 said brake band is set at a predetermined primarytension upon said brake wheel, and by means of which spring 21, anyrocking movement of the brake band and brake wheel in one direction isyieldingly resisted and limited. If desired to temporarily loosen saidbrake band 8b in order to manually run the cable oif the drum to towingor mooring length, the terminal nuts on the rod 17 may be retracted torelease'the tension on the springs 18 and 21, so that the brake wheeland drum will turn freely. If desired to omit said brake band, said rod17 may be attached in any suitable manner directly to said wheel 8, asto a wrist pin 8d thereon, instead of to the tongues 14 and 15; in suchcase, the spring 18 may be omitted, as will be readily understood.

Secured at one end to any suitable anchorage adapted to lbe moved bysaid wheel 8, as to a wrist pin 8c1 on said wheel or, preferably, to oneof said tongues, is a train of transmission devices -of any suitablestructure as, for example, a series voi? pivotally connected links orlevers, 24, 25 and 26, which train is secured at its opposite end to .avalve stem or controller lever for any suitable structure or type ofprime mover, as to the controller lever 27 of a controller 28 of anysuitable structure or type adapted to control the ow of power uid orenergizing means to such prime mover, and preferably to also govern asuitable brake for such prime mover; for example, to control the flow ofelectricity to said motor 4, and to govern any suitable form oi magneticor other electric brake, as de.

Said lever 25 is plvoted intermediate of its ends, as at 25 to one endof ay transversely reciprocate.- ble link 29 which is pivoted at itsopposite end, as at 29e, to a rock shaft 3d, which rock shaft is mountedin any suitable bearings, as 30a and 36h, and is engaged at its oppositeend by a manually operatable lever 3l. provided with any suitablelocking means, as a latch 32 adapted to engage a locking quadrant as33.' g i As has been observed, said spring 18 ymay be adjusted at anyIsuitable constant primary tension to set said brake and hold said brakewheel against any suitable predetermined degree of strain on the towingor mooring tine or drum, but that ii such strain is exceeded, the drumand brake wheel will tend to rotate and rock said wheel and brake band ashort distance in opposition to said spring 21. Any movement of saidwheel and band under such conditions will be communicated through saidtrain of links to the controller which will close the circuit of saidmagnetic brake y and close the circuit to said motor which will thenthrough the train of intermediate gears rotate the drum and pay out saidcable to relieve the excessive strain yon the same. When said strain isrelieved, said spring 2l will draw the brake band back to normalposition, which motion will be communicated to said controller lever andcause it to cut off the current to said motor and to open the circuit ofsaid magnetic brake. Said controller is also preferably adapted in anysuitable manner and by any suitable means to vary the speed of saidmotor according to the degree of excessive strain on said cable. This isaccomplished by the modified steam governed form of my invention by thecontroller valve operating to enlarge or reduce the open area of thesteam ports according to the degree and direction oi the oscillation ofthe brake wheel or brake band. Any of various forms or arrangements ofelectrical operating means or control may be used in combination, orconnection with said winch, in

one form of which electrical means, 4 is an electric motor comprising anarmature 4d, a series field 4b and a shunt iield 4. Said controller 28comprises an oscillatable drum, not shown, adapted to be rocked oroscillated by the crank lever 27. Mounted upon any suitable stationarysupports adjacent to said drum are two groups of stationary contactors,one of which groups comprises the contactors 28, 28f, 282, 28h, and 281,spaced from each other and from said drum and insulated from theirsupport, said contactors being electrically connected together in anysuitable manner as by a conductor wire orv bar 281. The other said groupis spaced and insulated from the rst said group and comprises thecontactors 28k, 281, 28m, 28, 28 and 28p, spaced from each other andinsulated from their support and electrically connected with each otherby the conductor wire or bar 28m. i Between said two groups is a groupof movable contactors 60, 6l. 62, 63, 64, 65, and 66, mounted on saiddrum and adapted to be moved thereby.

The contacter 60, is connected with said source 28a in any suitablemanner, as with the plus side thereof by the wire 281.

One of said stationary groups, as the group 28e to 281, inclusive, istermed the heaving-in group or side of the controller, three or more ofthe contactors thereof being in circuit during the heaving-in operationof `said winch.

The other of said stationary groups of contactors as the group 281* to28D, inclusive, is termed the paying-out group, or side of saidcontroller, three or more'of the contactors of the latter` stationarygroup being in circuit during the paying-out operation of said winch.

eWhen said drum is oscillated a sucient distance in one direction, threeor more contactors of the heaving-in group come into contact with`respectively opposite contactors of said movable group. When said drumis rocked or oscillated in the opposite direction, four or morecontactors of the paying-out group come into contact with respectivelyopposite contactors ef the nier/able group. When the drum is at eentraier neutral position none of the contactera dithe nic-Vahle ldd either ofsaid stationary groups.

The movable contactorll is connected with the opposite side of saidsource as by a minus line wire 28 and a branch Wire 61, in which latterwire is interposed a solenoid coil 61, adapted to close a normallyopenrelay 61,fthecoil being distant from said relay in the diagram to. avoidconfusion in connecting wires.

Said movable contactor 62 is connected with the minus side of saidsource through said line 28 and a branch Wire 62, in which wire 62 isinterposed a, normally closed interlock circuit closer 62h, a solenoidcoil 62, adapted to close a normally open relay 62d, and a solenoid coil62 adapted to close a normally open relay 621. The movable contactor ofthe interlock circuit'. closer 61 is mounted upon 'the movable contactorof the 'relay 63d, hereinafter referred to, and is adapted to open whensaid relay 63 closes.

The movable contactor 63, is connected with the minus side of saidsource by said line wire 28 and by a branch wire 63, in which latterwire is interposed a normally closed interlock circuit closer 631?, asolenoid coil 63 adapted to close a normally open relay 63d, and asolenoid coil 63 adapted to, close 'a normally 'open relay 63f. Themovable contactor of said interlock circuit closer 63 is mounted on themovable contactor of said relay 62d and is adapted to be opened therebywhen said relay 62d closes.

Said movable contactor 64 is connected with the minus side of saidsource by said Wire A28s and a branch Wire 64 in which branch Wire isinterposed a solenoid coil 64 adaptedy to open a normally closed contact64 which is normally held closed by a spring 64d.

Said movable contactor 65 is connected with the minus side of saidsource by said wire 28 and by a branch Wire 65, in which wire 65 isinterposed a solenoid coil 65b adapted to close a normally open relay65.

Said movable contactor 66 is connected with the minus side of saidsource byv said wire 28 and a branch wire 66, in which wire 66 isinterposed a solenoid oil 66b adapted to open a normally closed relay 66which is normally held closed by a spring 66d.

Solenoid coils 67, 68, and 69 are connected in.

parallel with the plus side or said source by said l wire 281' Said coil67 is adapted to close a normally open relay 67 and is connected inparallel with the minus side of said source by electrically parallelWires' 67 and 67 and/by minus line Wire 28. 'En said Wire 67 isinterposed a normally open relay 67cl adapted to be closed by aninterlock circuit closer 67e whichis mounted upon the movable contactorof said relay 62f and is adapted to close when said relay 62f closes.interposed a normally open relay 671 adapted to be closed by aninterlock circuit closer 67 which is mounted upon the movable contactorof said relay 66 and is adapted to close when said relay 66 opens.

Said coil 68 is adapted to close a normally open relay 68 and isconnected with the minus sideof said source by a wire 68b and by saidwires 67b and 67 and said interlock circuit closers 67 and 67g and saidwire 28. In said wire 68h is interposed a normally closed jam relay 68the circuit closer of which is adapted to be re. tracted or opened by asolenoid coil 68i when an overload occurs in the motor circuit.

In said Wire 67 is Said coil 69 is adapted to close a normally openrelay 69 and is connected with the minus side of said source by a wire69, said Wire 68, said relay 68, said wires 67b and 67, said normallyopen Y .interlock circuit closers 67 and 67 and said wire 28. It will beobserved that when said jam or overload relay opens, saidrelays 68 and69 will be cut out or circuit, thus cutting into the motor circuitcertain resistance elements 74, 73, and 72, hereinafter referred to.

The solenoid coils 70, 7l, and 72 are holding coils for holding open therelays 67, 68 and 69, respectively, which are open except when saidrelays are closed by the coils 67, 68, and- 69, respectively, at whichtimes s aid coil 70 is shorted by the closing of said interlockcircuitcloser 67 or 678, and at which times said holding coils 71 and 72are deenergized or shorted by the closing oil' relays 67 and 68,respectively.

Resistance elements 75, 74, 73 and 72 are interposed in the mainarmature circuit until said holding coil 70 is energized. When thecontroller drum is turned to rst heaving-in position, bringingthe'contactors 60, 6l and 62 into contact with the contactors 28, 28 and28, respectively, relay 61 closes, .releasing the brake 4; relay 6?dcloses; relay 62I closes;' interlock 63b opens; current ows throughseries held 4b, relay 62; resistance elements 75, 74, 73 and 72, andsimultaneously through the armature and resistance element 76, thencethrough relay 62f to the minus'side of the source; the motor turnsslowly. interlock circuit closer 67 closes; relays 67, 68e, and 69close, cutting outresistance elements 75, 74 and 73, and shorting theholding coils 71 and 72; the speed of the motor increases.

When the controller drum is turned in the same direction to secondheaving-in position bringing the contactor 64 into contact withcontactor 28h,

relay 64 opens cutting out resistance element 76;

the speed of the motor increases.

When the controller drul is turned farther' in the same direction,bringing the contactor 66 into contact with the contactor 281, relay 66opens, cutting out the shunt ileld 4, and the motor runs at high speed.When the controller drum is reversed to central or neutral position, therelay 61 opens and the brake 4 is set by a spring. The motor-thenrunning by momentum movable contactor of relay 63d), opens, relay 65closes; current ows simultaneously through shunt iield 4 and seriesfield 4b, the relay 63d, and simultaneously, or in parallel, through thearmature and resistance elements 76 and 77, thence through resistanceelements 72, 73, 74

and 75, and relay 67t to the minus side of the source; the holding coils70, 71 and'72 are energized; the motor turns slowly in paying-outdirection.

When the controller drum is turned-farther in the same direction, thecontacter 65 passes beyond and out of contact with the contacter 28; therelay 65 opens; the speed of the motor increases.

When the controller drum is turned farther in the paying-out directionthe contactors 64 and '66' are brought into contact with the contactors28n and 28p, respectively; the coil 64b is energized and relay 64copens; the coil 66b is energized and the relay 66c opens, de-energizingthe shunt eld 4c; interlock 67g (mounted on the movable contactor ofrelay 56), closes; coils 67, 68 and 69 are energized; holding coil 70 isshorted and relay 67a closes; holding coil 71 is shorted and relay 68acloses; holding coil 72 is shorted, and relay 69 closes. The closing ofrelays 67a, 68, and 69a cuts the resistance elements 75, 74 and 73 outof circuit; the motor runs at highspeed.

If, while the motoris turning slowly in the paying-out direction,accelerating forces occur, due to the overhauling action, or increasingtension of the cable and tending to speed up the motor, said motor will,in resistance thereto, regenerate and operate as a dynamic brake; theresult being somewhat similar to that effected by an automobile engineturning ahead in low, or second gear and resisting acceleration bygravity of the speed of the car while moving down hill.

v But if the tension on the cable becomes suicient to move thecontroller to a higher speed, or higher electrical gear paying-outposition, the speed of the motor will be accelerated and the tension ofy the cable will be temporarily eased.

In operation, however, the lever 31 is normally locked in heaving-inposition, thus temporarily swinging said link 25 onv its pivotedconnection with said link 24 and causing said links 25 and 26 to operatesaid controller lever thereby starting the Winch to heave in until thestrain on the cable rocks the brake Wheel and brake far enough tostraighten said link 25 on its pivot 25 thus returning said controllerlever to neutral and stopping the motor. Under such circumstances, i1"the cable becomes slack, said spring 21 will rock said band and Wheel totheir original positions, thus swinging said link 25 on its pivot 25a tooperative heaving-in position until such slack has been taken un.

If it is desired to arbitrarily slack the cable, said lever 3l istemporarily set at the opposite, or pay-out side of center or verticalaxis oi said quadrant thus swinging the link 25 and valve or controllerstern or lever into payingout, or motor reversing position. When it isdesired to stop such pay-out operation until the cable has become tautagain, said lever 3l may be set at. center or neutral position, or againreturned to a heave-in position.

When the lever 3l is set at center, or neutral, and if there is nostrain on the cable, one of said tongueaias l5, bears against a fixedshoulder or stop 3e of any suitable structure, pref erably extendingfrom, or forming part of said base and on the pay-out side of' saidtongue.

When it is not desired to use said Winch, vany suitable cut-od valve orswitch may be arbitrarily operated to cut of? the admission of energy'creating means to ksaid prime mover, as will be Well known to the art.

assaut A towing or mooring cable 35 is engaged by said drum.

While I have described one form of my said inI vention, it is obviousthat various modifications thereof er alterations therein may be madewithin the scope and spirit of certain of my claims.

What il claim 'is--a l. The combination of a shaft'a cable drumjournalled on said shaft, a brake wheel.V journalled on said shaft, abrake band mounted on said wheel, means for putting said band undertension, a prime mover, means connected to said brake band forautomatically governing the admission of energy to said prime mover,means for transmitting motion from said prime mover to said shaft, andmeans for transmitting motion from said shaft to said drum and brakewheel.

2. The combination ci a rotatable shaft, a cable drum journalled on saidshaft, a brake wheel journalled on said shaft, a brake band mounted onsaid wheel, adiustable means for putting said band under tension, aprimemover, means connected to said brake band for automaticallygoverning the admission of energizing fluid to said prime mover, meansfor transmit ting motion from said prime mover to said shaft, and meansfor transmitting motion from said shaft to said drum.

A3. The combination oi a rotatable shaft, a cable drum journalled onsaid shaft, a brake wheel journalled on said shaft, a brake band mountedon said wheel, resilient means for putting said band under tension, aprime mover, means connected to said band for automatically governingthe admission ci energy to said prime mover, means connected to saidautomatic governing means for manually shifting a portion of the same toarbitrarily govern the admission of energy to said prime mover, meansfor transmitting motion from said prime mover to said shaft and meansfor transmitting motion frein said shaft to said drum and brake Wheel.

4. The combination of a rotatable shaft, a cable drum member journalledon said shaft, a brake wheel member journalled on said shaft, a brakeband applied to said brake wheel, resilient means for putting said bandunder tension, a gear keyed to said shaft, ne of said members beingprovided with a relatively stationary annular internal gear, the otherof said members having a gear journalled thereon in mesh with saidinternal gear and said keyed gear, a prime mover, transmission means fortransmitting motion from said prime mover to said shaft, and meansconnected to said brake band for automatically governing the admissionof energizing uid to said prime mover.

5. The combination of a shaft, a cable drum journalled on said shaft, abrake wheel member journalled on said shaft, a brake band member mountedon said wheel member, a prime mover, means for transmitting motion fromsaid prime mover to said shaft, means for transmitting motion from saidshaft to said cable drum and brake wheel, a throttle valve for saidprime mover, and transmission means connected to one of said members andto said valve for operating said valve.

e. The vcombination of a rotatable shaft, a gear keyed to said shaft, acable drum member journalled on said' shaft, a brake wheel memberjournalled on said shaft, a brake band mounted on said wheel,y resilientmeans for putting said band under tension, one of said members beingprovided with an annular internal gear, the other `means engaging saidwheel member ,and drum of said members havingv a gear journalled thereoninfmesh with said internal gear andwith said keyed gear, resilient meansfor resisting and limiting motion of said Wheel and brake band, a primemover, means for transmitting motion from said prime mover to saidshaft,

and means connected to -said brake band for.

automatically governing the admission of energizing fluid to said primemover.

7. The combination of a rotatable shaft, a cable drum journalled on saidshaft, a brake wheel member journalled on said shaft, meansfortransmitting motion from said shaft'to saidy Y said prime mover, andtransmission means conv nected to one of said members and to saidthrottle for automatically operating saidthrottle." 8. The `combinationWith a suitablesupport, of a rotatable shaft, a cable drum journalled onsaid shaft, a Wheel member journaled on saidshaft, a brake memberapplied to said wheel member, resilient means for pressing said brake-memberagainst said Wheel'member, a prime mover, transmission meansconnected to one of said members and to the controlling valve of saidprime mover,transmission means engaging said prime mover. and saidshaft, and" transmission means engaging said shaft and drum and Wheelling valve, transmission means engaging said prime mover and said shaft,transmission means engaging said wheel member and drum and shaft,

a series .of levers connected to one of said members and to saidcontrolling valve,` a lever connected to one of the levers of saidseries for arbitrarily shifting its position, and resilient means forresisting rocking movement in one direction of said Wheel and wheelbrake.

l0. The combinationv of a support, a shaft.

journalled on said support, a drum'journalled on'said shaft, a primemover provided with a controlling valve, transmission means engagingsaid prime mover and said shaft, a wheel member axially alinedlvvithsaid shaft, transmission and shaft, a brake for said-prime mover, abrake member for said Wheel member, transmission means` engaged by oneof said members and adapted to operate said valve, and a lever connectedto said valve-operating transmission means for arbitrarily adjusting thesame.

11. The combination with a rotatable member,

, of a rotatable shaft, a gear mounted on said shaft and adapted to turnthe same, a prime mover, 85 transmission means engaged by said primemover and engaging said gear, an internal gear journalled on said shaft,a sun gear mounted on said shaft and adaptedv to be turned thereby, aplanetary gear carried by said rotatable member and lengaging said sungear and said internal gear, resilient means adapted to resist themovement of said internal gear, in one direction, `a valve adapted to`govern the admission of energizing means to said prime mover,transmission means 95 governed by said internal gear and adapted toloperatevs'aid valve,fand means for adjusting such valve operatingtransmission means. I

12. The combination with a rotatable member, of a rotatable'shaft, aprime mover, transmission 100 means engaged by said prime mover and bysaid shaft for turning said shaft, an oscillatable member journalled onsaid shaft, a sun gear mounted on said shaft and adapted to be turnedthereby, a planetary gear carried by one of said members and engagingsaid sun gear, the other of said members having an annular gearportionadapted to engage said planetary gear, yielding means adapted to resistthe movement in a rotarial direction-of one of said members, a valve forcontrolling the admission of energizing means t0 said prime mover,transmission means adapted to be actuated by one of said members andadapted to operate said valve, and means for adjusting such valveoperating means.

13. 'Ihe combination with a rotary member, of a rotatable shaft, a primemover, transmission means engaged by said prime mover and by said shaftfor turning said shaft, an oscillatable mem-l ber journalled on saidshaft, a sun gear mounted on said shaft and adapted to be turnedthereby,

4a planetary gear carried by one of said members ALMON A. JOHNSON. E3@

